Entitled: "Romeo and Juliet, act 5, scene 1, enter Apothecary". Engraving by W. Blake, published 1804. Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare early in his career about two young star-crossed lovers whose deaths ultimately reconcile their feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular plays. An apothecary is the historical name for a medical professional who formulates and dispenses materia medica to physician, surgeons and patients, a role now served by a pharmacist. William Blake (November 28, 1757 - August 12, 1827) was an English poet, painter, and printmaker. He is considered a seminal figure in the history of both the poetry and visual arts of the Romantic Age.